Multifamily Missteps Hosted by Christy Keeton

What separates successful multifamily investors from those who struggle—better systems, more innovative strategies, or the willingness to learn from costly mistakes?

In this conversation, Christy Keeton and Lane Kawaoka explore the unfiltered truths of multifamily investing. From scaling a portfolio of over 10,000 units to managing risks like foundation issues and tenant challenges, Lane shares the lessons, strategies, and mindset shifts that shaped his journey.

Ready to learn how to navigate the real-world complexities of multifamily investing and build long-term success? Tune in now to hear Lane’s story and actionable insights!

00:00 - Sett...

How do you turn setbacks into stepping stones, and how can multifamily investing unlock a life of freedom and purpose? In this episode of Multifamily Missteps, Tony Lopes, founder of Dirty Boots Capital, shares his inspiring journey from mechanical engineering to owning over 400 multifamily units. Through candid stories, he reveals the challenges and mistakes he faced, the lessons he learned, and how partnerships and focus helped him scale his success.

Listeners will explore strategies to uncover their strengths, avoid common investment pitfalls, and navigate today’s competitive market. Tony’s insights go beyond financial gain...

Are you ready to embrace the unvarnished truths of multifamily real estate investing? Join Christy Keeton as she hosts Whitney Elkins-Hutten, a seasoned real estate expert, to uncover the pivotal lessons that shaped Whitney’s inspiring journey from her first flip to building a $800 million portfolio. Whitney shares her early struggles, the power of partnerships, and the transformative value of diversification. 

Gain actionable insights into thriving in unpredictable markets, building meaningful connections, and forging generational wealth. Whether you're an aspiring investor or a seasoned pro, this episode has lessons to elevate your strategy.

<...

How can personal challenges fuel the journey to financial independence, and what does it take to create thriving communities through impactful real estate investing? Michelle Jeong, founder of FIRE Capital, shares how her transition from tech to real estate became a mission to provide affordable housing while empowering others to pursue financial freedom.

Through her candid reflections, Michelle unpacks the realities of multifamily investing, from managing missteps in property management to building meaningful relationships with residents and partners. Listeners will gain practical strategies for balancing financial growth with social responsibility, ensuring long-term success while...

What does it take to turn ambition into a thriving real estate legacy while navigating challenges, creating consistent wealth, and making a lasting impact? Zach Lemaster, CEO of Rent to Retirement, shares his transformative journey from optometrist to real estate leader, offering practical insights and strategies that anyone can use to achieve financial success. In this episode, Zach reveals how he leveraged tools like the 1031 exchange, built a portfolio through consistent action, and overcame common pitfalls in investing. 

With stories of growth, resilience, and lessons learned, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how y...

What does it take to thrive in the competitive world of multifamily real estate? Is it focus, strategy, or the ability to embrace challenges? Justin Goodin shares his journey from flipping single-family homes in college to leading multimillion-dollar ground-up developments. He offers a unique perspective on the importance of laser-focused specialization, building a personal brand, and putting tenants at the heart of every project.

Listeners will gain valuable insights on avoiding common pitfalls; the mindset needed to tackle real estate challenges, and actionable advice for building trust with investors and partners. Whether you're new...

What’s the most crucial element for success in real estate: strategy, partnerships, or mindset? Gino Barbaro shares how he built a multifamily empire by focusing on the right partnerships, a solid framework, and the psychology of money. Learn how to avoid common investing mistakes and create a scalable business.

Ready to discover the key to real estate success? Tune in as Gino Barbaro reveals how aligning strategy, partnerships, and mindset can transform your investment journey. Listen now!

00:00 - Introduction & Gino's Background

03:12 - The Importance of Partnerships and Alignment

05:52 - Missteps in...

What would you do if your first real estate deal went wrong? In this episode, Andrew Reichert shares how he transformed early mistakes into lessons that led to managing over 3,600 units. From his first duplex to scaling a multimillion-dollar portfolio, Andrew’s story highlights the real challenges of multifamily investing—missed projections, structural issues, and the importance of due diligence. Listeners can expect to hear real-life lessons from early missteps, strategies for managing risk in multifamily real estate, and insights into building a successful investment portfolio.

Curious about what separates successful investors from the rest...

What does moving from a traditional career to financial freedom through real estate take? Keshav Kolur, founder of Clive Capital, shares his journey from reading Rich Dad Poor Dad to making his first syndication investment in multifamily real estate. Hear how he turned his desire for multiple income streams into a successful real estate career, and learn why he believes real estate outside the stock market is key to building wealth.

Listeners will gain insights into real estate syndications, build-to-rent opportunities, and the importance of intelligent partnerships and debt management. Whether new to investing...

How do you go from being homeless to owning over 100 doors in real estate? Ray Glymph, an award-winning investor and business coach, shares his inspiring story of resilience and success. Recognized by platforms like Yahoo and Google and honored with the NAACP Champion of Change award, Ray has helped entrepreneurs of all levels transform their businesses.

In this episode, he reveals the hard lessons learned from early real estate missteps, the importance of adding value to properties, and the powerful connection between quality housing and mental health. If you want to gain practical insights...

Is success in multifamily investing just about buying the right property, or do the real dangers lie in the details you might miss? In this episode, Christy Keeton talks with real estate attorney and investor Bishoy Habib, who shares a shocking story about an investor losing millions because of a single missing clause. Bishoy reveals key lessons from his career, including how to avoid common legal pitfalls, protect your investments, and form the right partnerships.

Ready to safeguard your investments and avoid costly mistakes? Listen now and learn how to make smarter, more secure...

What separates successful multifamily investors from those who struggle? Is it about finding the perfect deal or navigating inevitable challenges? Christy Keeton talks with Julie Anne Peterson about critical lessons from real estate missteps, covering topics like rate caps, economic vacancy, and building the right partnerships.

Julie shares unfiltered stories and practical advice for avoiding common mistakes and thriving in today’s market. Tune in to learn how to turn setbacks into success and master multifamily investing!

00:00 - Welcome to Multifamily Missteps

02:00 - Early Real Estate Adventures: Fr...

What truly separates a successful real estate investor from the rest? In this episode, a former professional hockey player, Bob Lachance, shares his journey from the rink to real estate success. He opens up about the mistakes that shaped his career, the importance of keeping emotions in check, and how virtual assistants can take your business to the next level. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your strategy, this episode offers insights that could change how you approach investing. 

Ready to uncover the mindset behind real estate success? Listen now and find o...

Is the promise of passive income in real estate too good to be true? Emma Powell, a seasoned multifamily investor, pulls back the curtain on what it takes to succeed in this field. From her start as a real estate photographer to becoming a full-time investor, Emma shares the challenges of raising capital, finding the right partners, and why the journey is far from easy.

If you’re questioning whether multifamily investing is the right path for you, this episode provides the raw, unfiltered truth. Emma’s candid stories reveal the real struggles and rewards of building weal...

Join Christy in this episode of Multifamily Missteps as she dives deep into the crucial process of due diligence for multifamily properties. Learn how to avoid common financial pitfalls, such as improperly assessing taxes, insurance, and renovation costs, and discover the importance of reviewing leases and existing contracts.

Christy shares real-life experiences, including a case where overlooked lease details led to a short financial strain. She emphasizes the need for thorough physical inspections, covering HVAC, foundation, roofing, electrical, and plumbing systems, and highlights a costly mistake from incomplete plumbing inspections.

Christy also offers valuable tips...

Steven takes us on the journey of beginner landlord to the most recent lending environment. Join us for the pitfalls of gut instinct and floating-rate loans. Buckle up!

Support the show

Are you feeling overwhelmed with Multifamily deal analysis? Are you uncertain about the right investment? Christy is an expert underwriter and mentor and wants help you on your journey! Visit her website at www.ChristyKeeton.com to book a discovery call now.

In this short episode, Christy takes you down the path of her first 2 deals that had the SAME misstep! 

Support the show

Are you feeling overwhelmed with Multifamily deal analysis? Are you uncertain about the right investment? Christy is an expert underwriter and mentor and wants help you on your journey! Visit her website at www.ChristyKeeton.com to book a discovery call now.

Having the right inspector on-site is crucial. Join Jerome as he shares his journey of acquiring a 20-unit and an 8-unit property from the same owner, both closing on the same day. Discover the critical missteps that could have cost him and his partners dearly. Tune in as he dives into issues with HVAC systems and emphasizes the importance of attention to detail, right down to misplaced commas. You'll appreciate the integrity with which he addresses his errors.

Support the show

Are you feeling overwhelmed with Multifamily deal analysis? Are you uncertain about the right...

Aiming for a huge target is not at all bad, but the harsh reality should also be considered. In this episode, we feature Matthew Drouin and his story of doing a deal that entails facing problematic neighborhoods and people down on their luck. He talks about his experience of regret looking upon himself as a hero and brings the invaluable lessons he learned from it.

 

[00:00 - 08:51] When the Harsh Truth Slaps, We Go Back to What Matters

Back into real estate by accident as a residential agentThe struggles of being poor in an affluent n...

Holding your money too tightly to invest for inspection would be a big mistake. Michael Sampson notes that it's important to work with a good real estate broker and have professional inspections done on your properties to make sure they're in good condition. He also advises patience when growing a real estate portfolio, as successes can take time to build.

 

[00:00 - 07:13] Lessons Learned from Multifamily Investing

Spend money upfront for inspectionDo your research and work with a good real estate brokerHave an exit plan in place if things go wrong

[07:14 - 10:37] Multifamily Operator F...

How much do we know about the property before we make a deal?  In this episode, Tommy Brant addresses the importance of financial due diligence and how knowing the owners is just as essential as knowing the assets. Tommy also shares how taking the lead on the deal helped create value for him and his partners.

 

[00:01 - 17:18] The Deal that Eluded Me 

Tommy shares how he got his start in real estateForming a team with the broker's contactFinding problems during financial due diligence

[17:19 -19:44 ] How to Avoid Mistakes During Financial Due Diligence

Und...

Planning to get the deal requires consideration of a strategic exit too. In this episode, Sam Wilson talks about his investment and exit strategies, avoiding mistakes in the future, and how important it is to make sure that there are out clauses in contracts in order to protect oneself. Listen closely as Sam provides listeners with valuable advice on how to make life count by doing the things that don't always count.

 

[00:01 - 13:36] How to Secure a Contractual Agreement with Sellers

Have reasons for walking away from a deal, even if it's difficultSam discusses h...

Is it possible to generate passive income while on active duty? Of course! Listen in as Tim Kelly and Jerome Myers emphasize the importance of education and networking to becoming successful in real estate investing. In this episode, Tim explains how to create a community of like-minded individuals in order to leverage relationships and access opportunities. Tune in as he shares stories of his own successes and failures. This is a signal for you to take the necessary steps to achieve your own goals.

 

[00:01 - 10:23] Creating Financial Freedom on the Way to Success

The i...

Many people can get involved as you start your real estate journey, so how do we make sure that the people we have are worthy of our trust? Verifying information and clear communication are keys. In today’s episode, Jerome Myers interviews Dave Seymour, who has a background as a firefighter turned into a real estate investor. Listen as he shares his struggles with the consequences of the downturn in the market.  They discuss how property values can go down, even in good times, and how this affects their decision-making.

 

[00:01 - 04:41] Opening Segment 

Suffering finan...

Wisdom comes from experience and learning from mistakes. Perhaps for those starting in multifamily investing, being a bit more conservative at first and taking calculated risks is the way. Do not take for granted the relationships you are developing along the way as this may turn out to be more valuable than what you are earning. My guest, Justin Britto, talks about how he became an investor, what mistakes he has made in the past, and how he has learned from them. He also shares advice for aspiring investors.

[00:01 - 05:40] Opening Segment 

Do you have an exit strategy? A lot of risks go into your investment if you do have one. In today’s episode, my guest, Ben Fraser, discusses the implications of ensuring assets worth more in the future and being able to protect the investment at the same time. Listen closely as he talks about the dangers of over-leveraging in the current market environment and how to avoid getting trapped in a cycle of debt.

[00:01 - 05:26] Opening Segment 

Ben Fraser on the managing real estate turbulenceFiguring out deals that make sen...

What makes the real estate industry attractive is how you can attain a huge cash flow passively. However, is that the truth or is there something more? In today's episode, Axel Ragnarsson discloses his story and reminds us of the due diligence to establish when assessing deals, the ramifications of not working with key persons in transactions, and the dangers of complacency and how it can put you in a tough spot.

[00:01 - 04:49] Opening Segment 

Get to know today's guest, Axel RagnarssonHe shares his podcasting and real estate journeyMissing out o...

It is perfectly normal for some people to leave you and come into your life. In real estate, however, it should not be. When the people leaving your properties are more than those who come in, you should realize there’s a problem, and you need to pinpoint and address that problem fast. Luckily for Sonya Rocvil, she realized that there’s something wrong with their property and they were able to address it. 

[00:01 - 03:07] Opening Segment 

I welcome today’s guest, Sonya Rocvil Connect with SonyaLinks below

<...

When the property turns out to be way too problematic to handle, it is easier to give up on it. So, should we do it? Alex Moore argues otherwise, saying that as long as you have multiple plans in place, it is even harder not to be successful in real estate investing. Also, she leaves a valuable tip for any investor to avoid huge headaches and uncover deeper issues - touring the property at night - and there are good reasons for that.

[00:01 - 04:23] Opening Segment 

Alex Moore on being a...

Are you putting your opportunity fund in the right places? Although it is common to think that simply putting your money in the bank account is ideal because it is safe and risk-free, clearly, it is not the way to supercharge your investment. As Rod Zabriskie and Blake Brogan stated, we should consider playing around with the idea of compound interest and get the money working for us. Listen as they discuss the ways to be smart with how you store your opportunity fund.

[00:01 - 06:41] Opening Segment 

Rod Zabriskie a...

When it seems like everything is going as planned, suddenly, you went way under budget for the renovation. That was the problem Chris Grenzig had to face in his deal. He shares the importance of surrounding yourself with people who know more than you and why you should always ask more questions and look for potential drawbacks to plan for contingencies. Listen as he shares this huge hurdle that was eventually turned around with a better plan and increasing rental growth.

[00:01 - 06:28] Opening Segment 

Chris Grenzig on getting his feet w...

We always hear about the importance of due diligence. Well, we can never say it enough as Ayal Joshua shares his real estate experience of a costly fix that shouldn’t have happened. He goes over the turn of events and the steps he had to undertake to make the property function without compromise and worked on lowering the cost. He emphasizes the value of going beyond what’s required and practicing caveat emptor: “Let the buyer beware.”

[00:01 - 03:49] Opening Segment 

Ayal Joshua on getting into multifamily as an electrical engineerI...

You enter a deal and the underwriting reveals that there is too much expense allocation for the property topped with bandaid fixes to solve… What happens then? Williams Edwards shares this noteworthy experience that ended up with reduced expenses, replaced property management team, and even lower tax burden. He also highlights the value of consultancy for better tax benefits. Listen as he shares his story of starting from the ground up and now investing in 5000 units.

[00:01 - 04:29] Opening Segment 

Williams Edwards on the W-2, the software systems, then to real est...

Dealing with various properties can be such an interesting journey where you’ll encounter issues you never thought would occur. For Justin Fraser, it was about environmental issues and because of this experience, the need to have contingency plans as you go through deals becomes all the more essential. When this happens, staying positive and practicing due diligence in the process can make all the difference.

 

[00:01 - 05:24] Considering Exits and Doubling the Equity

Justin Fraser on handling 670 units as an asset managerThe reason for the exit of a mon...

Cheaper is better, right? Well, when it comes to real estate services, that is usually not the case. In fact, the cost for you can even be higher in the long run. Arie van Gemeren highlighted this as he shares the journey of multiple missteps he encountered in his deals. He discusses the dangers of not being properly capitalized - imagine if a significant amount has to be escrowed by the bank a few days before the deal! Arie also stresses the need to understand code compliance for less stress in property management.

[00:01 - 06:00...

Let’s talk about tax - that three-letter word is daunting for many people, but when you are guided by a professional, it doesn’t have to be too intimidating. It’s truly discouraging not to acquire the expected income due to unanticipated deductions, so having a professional leading you can help limit this frustration. Larry Pendleton talks about his mission as a CPA – helping people achieve financial freedom through real estate and taxes. He highlights the need for real estate investors to create their tax strategy to successfully grow investments.

[00:01 - 06:06] Opening Segment ...

Real estate investing can be crazy and scary. Things won’t always go as planned and Angel Williams’ story will get your heart racing knowing the ups and downs their team had to face just to get to the finish line. Sometimes, the members of an LLC had to be restructured and exits can happen for numerous reasons. The important thing is to keep the respect and strive for a clean transition to establish transparency. Angel also reminds us of the benefits of surrounding yourself with experts and the importance of solidifying your documents for a smoother close.

Being a limited partner entails fewer responsibilities. However, what would you do if the GPs disappear when things go wrong? For Marc Weisi, he chose to grab the issues by the horns and save the day. In this episode, he emphasizes the significance of practicing due diligence and putting your head down to do the work to save a good deal. Listen as he shares his experience of going deeper into the ins and outs of managing a deal, the checklist when vetting sponsors, and the sacrifices he had to make to get this done.

<...

Just the view of piles of papers can already be such an eyesore, but Rodney Thompson warns us of the potential repercussions if we don’t go through the documentation. Relying on others may be an option, but we have to remember that not everyone has your best interest in their mind and that at the end of the day, everything will be under your name, not theirs. 

 

[00:01 - 06:02] Opening Segment 

I welcome today’s guest, Rodney ThompsonPlanning to be financially ready for retirementChoosing to get up and work on...